Pony tail hair clasp and ornament



A318- 12 1.953 j M. RAlalNowl--rz 2,847,016

- PONY TAIL HAIR cLAsP AND ORNAMENT Filed March 8, 1957 INVENTQR. M/aeeo H. Ens/Ivo H7-zl ATTORNEYS..

United States Patent PONY TAIL HAIR CLASP AND ORNAMENT Mildred H. Rabinowitz, Houston, Tex.

Application March 8, 1 957, Serial No. 644,880

6 Claims. (Cl. y1'3'2-48) This invention relates to hair holding devices, and more particularly to a ring-like holder through which hair can be pulled at the back of the head to form and retain a so called pony tail.

-The pony tail style Iof hairdo or coiffure is becoming increasingly popular, in view of its attractiveness, neatness, and its particularly effective use on certain types of hair.

However, certain diiculties are experienced in putting up a pony tail. For example, holders are often diihcult to apply, and a conventional practice is to use a rubber band or ribbon for the purpose of-holding the hair in place. A rubber band has pronounced disadvantages, in that not only is its application dicult and time-consuming, but also, the hair tends to become caught between strands of the rubber band, as a result of which discomfort and real pain are experienced when the rubber band is being taken off. Further, a ribbon, rubber band, or ordinary pony tail holder tends to `slip from place, thus reducing the attractiveness ofthe hairdo. Then again, there is nothing to limit the movement of the holder toward the back of the head, as a result of which the hair is often pulled too tight, causing discomfort.

Still further, holders as heretofore devised have not been adjustable with respect to the inner diameters thereof, to an extent that will permit `different amounts of hair to be pulled through. As a result, the holder often does not fit properly, with the hair being either too loose or too tight when extended therethrough.

An important object of the present invention .is to overcome all the disadvantages hereinbefore noted, through` the provision of an improved pony tail holder which will be adjustable as to its diameter with maximum ease and speed; will be designed to serve not only as an efficient holder but also as a highly attractive ornament; will be so formed as to insure against slippage of the holder and hair relative to each other; and will be adapted to limit itself in respect to movement toward the back of the head, so that the hair-encircling portion of the holder will not be movable too close tothe head, in a manner that would cause discomfort resulting from a pulling force on the scalp by the hair that is pulled through the holder.

Another 4object is to provide a particularly effective surfacing of the holder that will insure to the maximum extent against slippage, while at the same time being designed to present an attractive exterior appearance.

A further object of importance is to provide a holder the head-engaging portion of which will be formed as a pair of overlapping, segmentally shaped wings so .angled relative to the axis lof the ring portion of the holder as to maintain said ring portion substantially horizontally, with the wings being snugly fitted to and conforming to the contour of the back of the head, whereby t-o not only properly position the holder in respect to its distance from the scalp, but also cause the pony tail to-be held outwardly from the head in a comfortable location.

Yet another object is to provide a pony tail hair clasp Mice and ornament that will be capable of manufacture at relatively low cost, the cost of the `device being little or no greater than that of similar -devices heretofore conceived, despite the many .advantages possessed by thedevice as compared to the previously manufactured clasps.

'Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective viewof `the holderas seen from the rear, when in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear elevational viewof the holder;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the same scale as "Figure 2, taken substantially. on line 3-3 of'Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, still further enlarged, on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the hair clasp constituting the present invention includes a ring composed of apair of confronting, arcuate ring sectionshingedly connected for relative swinging movement about anA axis paralleling that of the ring or sleeve through which "the hair is extended to form a pony tail-P. Thus, the ring includes a rst section 10 which can comprisev a piece of thin metal, ornamentally surfaced in any suitable manner, or alternatively can be comprised of a molded piece of plastic or `the like. In any event, theV section l10 is curved about an unchanging radius, approximately through 225 degrees of a circle as best shown kinFigure 2. Section 10 is provided with a lining 12 whichm'ay be of soft rubber or other resilient, friction-producing material. Said lining may be molded directly onto the metallic or plastic member, as'will be readily understood, and in the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFigure' 3, the outer member 10 is engaged in ashallow, external recess of the liner 12.

This construction can be varied as desired, it being mainly important that friction-producing means be provided upon the inner surface of the ring section, Vrand that said means preferably be of al material havinginherent characteristics designed to produce friction lfor the purpose of preventing relative slippage ofthe hair and the ring section.

A confronting ring section 14 is also formed as an arcuate piece of metallic'material, curved about'anumchanging radius through substantially 200 degrees, more or less, of a circle. Member 14 is provided with-a resilient, friction-producing lining 16.

The sections are hingedly connected together at one end, With the hinge being exposed at the undersideofthe device as shown in Figure 2 so as Ato be substantially invisible to the casual viewer when the device is in use. The hinge 18 comprises hinge sleeves lformed upon sections 10, at opposite sides offand in coaxial alignment with a hinge sleeve 20 formed upon the adjacent endY of the section 14. A pair of coil springs can` be provided, in alternating relation to the several hingesleeves, as at 22, with each spring having its opposite" ends engaging the undersides ofthe ring sections las vshown 'in'Figure 2, so as to normally bias the ring sectionsto a' closed position in which the free ends'of the rings are inoverlapping relation as in Figure 2.

It will be understood that in some embodiments; the spring may be omitted, with the movement of thesections into a sleeve or ring-forming position, in which the free ends of the sections overlap being effected manually.

In any event, the hinge is completed through :the Vuse of a pin 24 extending throughthe several hinge sleeves and through the coils of -the respective springs:22.

vIntegral with' the respective sections' l0,` 14 are segmentally shaped wings 26,28"resp'ectively. Ea'eheof v'the wings is transversely curved, so that the wings, when overlapped in the manner shown in Figure 2, cooperate to define a segment of a hollow sphere adapted to generally correspond to and lit snugly against the back of the head below the pony tail as shown in Figure l. The wings thus deline a form-fitting abutment or support, that firmly and yet comfortably engages against the back of the head not only to conceal stray ends of hair below the pony tail, but also for the purpose of holding the pony tail-receiving sleeve or band in a horizontally extending position as best shown in Figures l and 3.

In any event, the wings 26, 28 are formed integrally with the metallic or plastic outer portions of the respective ring sections, and may have ornamentally shaped, arcuate, outer edges 30 which in the illustrated example, but not necessarily, are scalloped from end to end thereof.

Further, it will be understood that the outer surfaces of the wings, as well as of the ring sections, may be ornamentally shaped through the provision of precious or semi-precious stones embedded therein, etc.

The wings extend obliquely to the axis of the sleeve or ring, as shown in Figure 3, with the wings being disposed wholly beyond one end of the sleeve, also as shown in Figure 3, and extending downwardly from the sleeve. The wings, thus, extend downwardly forwardly from the sleeve at an incline, to engage the back of the head below the pony tail. It will be noted that the wings serve to space the sleeve rearwardly a short distance from the scalp, so that they limit the movement of the sleeve toward the scalp, thereby to insure maximum comfort for the wearer without possibility of the hair pulling on the scalp.

An important feature of the invention may be readily noted from Figure 4. On the outer ring section 1i), that is, the ring section the free end of which is disposed at the outside of the sleeve or ring, there is provided a small, inwardly facing hook 32, which may be embedded in the liner 12 or otherwise iixedly secured to the inside of the section 10. The hook 32 is engageable in any of a plurality of eyelets 34 provided on the free end portion of the ring section 14 and facing outwardly of the section 14 so as to conveniently receive the hook. The eyelets may be defined by openings-formed in the metallic member of the ring section 14, with the liner 16 having undercut recesses communicating with said openings of member 14 as shown in Figure 4, to provide overhangs on which the hook 32 will engage.

In use, one separates the sections at their detachably connected, free ends, and thus swings the sections apart about their hinge axis, to open the ring. This frees the pony tail P, so that the hair immediately falls back loosely at the back of the head. The device may thus be readily removed.

When it is desired to provide a ponytail, the device is readily applied to the hair, and the hair is pulled through the device, after which the ring sections are closed to Whatever extent is necessary to cause the same to tightly clamp the hair that has been pulled therethrough. This will register one of the eyelets 34 with the hooks 32, to permit the connection of the ring sections in a selected position to which they are swung relative to each other. It may be noted that the sections are slightly resilient, so that they can bend to different curvatures as necessary in forming rings or sleeves of different diameters.

In any event, when the ring or sleeve has been closed in the manner described, the Wings 26, 28 are merely pressed forwardly against the back of the head, if they are not already in proper position. This will cause the pony tail to be held outwardly from the head as shown in Figure l, providing an attractive and comfortable positioning of the same. Further, the sleeve will be spaced a predetermined distance from the scalp, to prevent pulling of the hair on the scalp. Still further, the

sleeve will be disposed with its axis extending horizontally, to further aid in proper positioning of the pony tail.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily conned to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the speciiic construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantity of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, arcuate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative to each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; and abutment means extending forwardly, downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to space the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, comprising a pair of overlapping wings, said wings being connected to the respective sections and being formed as wide, generally segmentally shaped members transversely curved to conform generally to the shape of the back of the head.

2. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantitfy of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, arcuate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; and abutment means extending forwardly, downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to space the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, said sections being swingable to selected overlapped positions, so as to adjust the diameter of the sleeve to iit the same snugly about the hair extending therethrough.

3. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantity of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, arcuate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative to each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; abutment means extending forwardly, downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to space the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, said sections being swingable to selected overlapped positions, so as to adjust the diameter ofthe sleeve to fit the same snugly about the hair extending therethrough; and means for detachably connecting the overlapped portions of the sections in each position to which said sections are adjusted relative to each other.

4. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantity of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, accurate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative to each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; abutment means extending forwardly, downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to spa-ee the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, said sectie-ns being swingable to selected overlapped positions, so as to adjust the diameter of the sleeve to fit the same snugly about the hair extending therethrough; and means for detachably connecting the overlapped portions or" the sections in each position to which said sections are adjusted relative to each other, comprising a hook on one of the sections and a series of hook-receiving eyelets spaced circumferentially of other section.

5. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantity of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, arcuate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative to each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; abutment means extending forwardly, downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to space the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, said sections being swingable to selected overlapped positions, so as to adjust the diameter of the sleeve to lit the Asame snugly about the hair extending therethrough; means for detachably connecting the overlapped portions of the sections in each position to which said sections are adjusted relative to each other, comprising a hook on one of the sections and a series of hook-receiving eyelets spaced circumferentially of the other section; and means on the inner surfaces of the respective sections adapted to frictionally grip the hair in each position to which the sections are swingably adjusted relative to each other to prevent slippage of the sleeve upon the hair in an axial direction.

6. A hair clasp comprising a sleeve adapted to extend about a selected quantity of hair at the back of the head and comprising hingedly connected, arcuate sections cooperating, in one position to which they are swung relative to each other, in forming a continuous sleeve; abutment means extending forwardly downwardly from the respective sections for engagement against the back of the head to space the sleeve a predetermined distance therefrom, said sections being swingable to selected overlapped positions, so as to adjust the diameter of the sleeve to t the same snugly about the hair extending therethrough; means for detachably connecting the overlapped portions of the sections in each position to which said sections are adjusted relative to each other, comprising a hook on one of the sections and a series of hook-receiving eye-lets spaced circumferentially of the other section; and means on the inner surfaces of the respective sections adapted to frictionally grip the hair in each position to which the sections are swingably adjusted relative to each other to prevent slippage of the sleeve upon the hair in an axial direction, comprising liners on the sections formed of a resilient, soft material.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lemley Aug. 27, 1940 

